How to Prepare for DU JAT in Two Weeks

With less than 2 weeks to go to DU’s Joint Admission Test (JAT), it becomes important, more than ever before, to plan a strategy to maximise your score. Many opt for coaching classes for this guidance, but it isn’t entirely impossible to crack these exams without coaching as well. Here is the key to scoring well in this notorious exam.

Around 40,000 students all over India appear for the DU JAT exam annually for merely 1400 seats in the three professional courses in University of Delhi (DU) colleges.

The cut-off of the entrance exam to proceed to the interview round in 2016 was 164 marks, and for 2017, a student had to score 230 above to gain admission in DU’s SSCBS.

Quantitative Ability

In the 2016 and 2017 JAT exams, maths of the 10+2 level was given considerable weightage. Topics like AP, GP, trigonometry, and algebra were abundant in the 2016 paper. Areas like Time-Speed-Distance, and Time and Work are also observed but the trend towards them has been discouraging. It is highly recommended to make educated guesses using the options, but if you’re not too sure and not confident in your accuracy, remember that the trade-off would be with 1 mark.

Current Awarness + Business Awareness

Do not indulge into the myth of coaching centres helping you improve your general knowledge. The probability of those general knowledge (GK) questions, as told in the said coaching, coming in the exam is very little as there is simply too much to remember. It is better to keep a track of the happeinings in the world. (as unwelcoming as this sounds, it is necessary. Sites like indiabix.com are very helpful aids.) Static GK questions do not enjoy a favourable position anymore unlike the past years. Business Awareness, on the other hand, has always appeared without fail. For the same, you could start off with memorising the taglines of important conglomerates and their founders and CEOs. Keeping up-to-date with mergers and acquisitions in the news front always helps!

Logical Reasoning

This is the most scoring and easy to attempt part. Out of 30 questions, be sure to attempt a minimum of 21 questions from this section, and the number should only increase in proportion to the level of easiness of the exam. Venn diagrams, distribution of data, and cubes and dices are definite questions that can be expected and are easy to attempt at the same time.

Verbal Ability

This section tends to be on the easier side but can be tough for those who are insecure of their verbal skills. Practicing reading comprehension under time restrictions can help improve speed. Vocabulary cannot be mugged up in such a short span of time, but skimming through past year papers can help you know what to expect.

Practice material for the maths and logical reasoning portions are readily available on the Internet. It cannot be reiterated enough, that students who are susceptible to getting stuck in questions should consciously avoid attempting the difficult ones.

It is also important to acknowledge that exam patterns are subject to continuous change and so is the criterion of admission prone to last-minute modifications. Over the last five years, DU has continually experimented with the parameters to assign a student his/her rank. In 2016, no weightage was given to board marks, and GDPI had a cumulative worth of 15%. In 2017, GDPI was discarded and board marks were reintroduced with 35% weightage.

Enrolling for coaching definitely helps, but it doesn’t guarantee you a seat, and the vice-versa also stands true. Now is the time to study hard and smart, and to plan for the remainder of your time well. Good luck!

A soon-to-be third year Commerce student at Jesus and Mary College. Can be found browsing quizzes on Slideshare or re-reading the Harry Potter series for the nth time. To discuss the insipidness of life or if in need of any assistance, drop a "hi" at vijeatab@dubeat.com. (fun facts and interesting leads are always appreciated)

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